When the ancient Polynesians invented surfing, they often used a paddle to help them navigate. Fast-forward a few millennia, and Stand-Up Paddleboarding, or SUP, finds itself trendy again. Part of its increasing popularity is that standing upright allows surfers to spot waves more easily and thus catch more of them, multiplying the fun factor. Paddling back to the wave becomes less of a strain as well. The ability to cruise along on flat inland water, surveying the sights, is another advantage. Finally, its a good core workout. If youre sold on the idea, schedule an intro SUP lesson, free with board and paddle rental, and you may find yourself riding the waves like a Polynesian king.More

Many of us remember coming home from our elementary schools with freshly glazed pinchpots, cups, or whatever else our young imaginations could conjure up. Saturday mornings at the Randall Museum can bring that memory back, or create a new one for the youngsters. Ceramics make great gifts — especially on Mothers' and Fathers' Day. Hop on board for the Randall's once-weekly class, and for $6 and two weeks to have your work fired and glazed, you'll have all the materials you need.More

Thursday, June 16, 2011

The chairs, sofas, and lamps crawling up the walls of the defunct Hugo Hotel on Sixth Street might be destroyed when the building is demolished next year. The developer of the affordable housing complex that will replace the Hugo's footprint has no plans to reinstall the quirky furniture.

San Francisco artist Brian Goggin installed the iconic public art known as Defenestration in the 1990s to liven up the abandoned building in the Tenderloin. Goggin told SF Weekly last year that he planned for the art to come down with the building, but then he raised enough money to restore the pieces so they could possibly be moved to another location.

And now it seems the need for a new home is imminent, unless there is mass opposition to the new building plans. The Historic Preservation Committee will be looking at Mercy's
plan at today's meeting, according to news reports.

Mercy claims there will be art -- just not dancing furniture art. According to developer Sharon Christen, once it has identified the areas of the building where
there would be space for artwork, they'll ask for proposals from the
community.

The SOMA Leadership Council chairman Jim Meko says he wants to make sure public art will be
part of Mercy's plan. "I'm skeptical about flimsy promises," Meko says. "I'll work with the
arts community to make sure they get a bulletproof agreement."

The Leadership Council met with a Mercy Housing rep last night, Meko says, who revealed that the new building will be named after San Francisco native Bill Sorro, the legendary Filipino activist, who passed away in 1997.

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Sub Pop recording artists 'clipping.' brought their brand of noise-driven experimental hip hop to the closing night of 2016's San Francisco Electronic Music Fest this past Sunday. The packed Brava Theater hosted an initially seated crowd that ended the night jumping and dancing against the front of the stage. The trio performed a set focused on their recently released Sci-Fi Horror concept album, 'Splendor & Misery', then delved into their dancier and more aggressive back catalogue, and recent single 'Wriggle'.
Opening performances included local experimental electronic duo 'Tujurikkuja' and computer music artist 'Madalyn Merkey.'"